Modulation



May 7, 1935. E. MAYER 2,000,770

MODULAT ION Filed June 28, 1935 ATTORNEY l Patented May 7, 1935 f PLA f vl'MorroYLMIoiNY -mil Mayer, Berlin, Germany, assignorfto V'Iclc- Y f funken Gesellschaft fr Drahtlose Telegraphie m. b.H'., Berlin, Germany, a corporation of `Germany Application June 2s, 19st', serial Naisimovs f f In Germany June 17, 1932 Y 1s claims. (ci. 179-471) 'Ihis invention relates to an arrangement; for modulated transmitters, andfmore in particular to telephonie transmitters. i t 2 Telephony transmitter Asystems have been known heretofore nrwhich the Value of the care rier waveris altered in accordance rwith the acoustic volume of the incoming voice or 'music in such a manner that a decrease in the mean modulation frequency amplitude is accomplished by a decrease in the amplitude ofthe carrier wave. YThis insures that the modulation percentage or factor of the waves sent outorfbroadcast is always approximatelyy the same. V`This feature entails-and insures aconsiderable saving inl the cost of current, an itemthat assumes considerable practical importanceespecially in the case of large power broadcast stations.

A change in the carrier Wave Vamplitude is 'in` surable by a variation of the grid biasing voltage or of the Ygrid alternating voltage in the power or final stage of the transmitter. Another method known in the priorfart and used for economy is to regulate the-plate direct current-voltage of the power stageof the transmitter. This latter scheme offers the practicalmerit that, asA the, amplitude of themodu1ation energy decreases,

there occurs simultaneously also ar reduction inY the plate direct current voltage, so that both the energy absorption (input) of the powerestage of the transmitter as well as the radio frequency energy output are varied, with the result that the highest current economy is secured. Where direct current generators are'employed, certain practical diicultieswill arise in changesoft1ie plate voltage owing to the high inductance ofthe In arrangements excitation of the generators. in which the'platedirect current .voltage is prof duced by the aid of a rectifier from an alternating current line or supply, regulation of the'ensuing plate voltage by the usek of stages or rotary converters is unsuited. 'Y

Accordingto this invention, vthe.change in the direct current voltage in accordance with the mean amplitude ofthe modulationfrequency is accomplished by energizing the transmitter stages from alternating 'current sources jby' Way ofrectifiers comprising'tubes having control grid electrodes, the changes 4or variations inthe plate potential available forithe transmittertube by action of energy `derived from `the modulating potentials upon the grid of the rectiiiers.' `Within the scope of this invention, these latter tubes may be of the high-vacuum typecomprising a control electrode or else of any other Vacuum tube with acontrol electrode, say, vgas'or vapor filled rectiers with a'heated cathode and a control electrode aswell.; Moreover I contemplate theuse of `a Well known rectifier tube in which; if the grid electrode is maintainednegative beyond` a. critical value no anode current will flow, even 5 though anode potentials areapplied, but if the anode is maintained positive and the gridpotenf. tialv is reduced (made less negative) `beyond critical point, anode-current will vstart' owing and will continue to `fiow as long as the'ano'de l0 ismaintained positive. Also mercury vapor 'rece tiiiers with a control electrodewhich as ageneralf rule consist of metal vacuum tubesf made from .iron/andV which ,areknown ask iron rectiflers?,

are suited in connection with the present inven-g 15 tion. t

If the carrier wave is vto be changed eirclusively by alterations of the plate direct current voltage. then amplifier tubes with a very high gainreciprocal should be employed therein, and'the 20.y

transmitter equipment llaflcomprise a. Alarge J number of modulated stages. For since vthe modulatedtubes voperate in the presence offun-` dervoltage, in other words, since the amplitude ofthe alternating or changing voltage'coinpo- 25 nent superposed upon the plate direct current voltage is always v ery low as compared with the plate y direct currentl voltage, it-'will be obvious that, in the case of tubes operating on a very lowV f gain reciprocal, a variation of plate direct ur- 3o rent'voltage would result in no change atall the radio frequency amplitude. It is only fasfa result. of thek gain-reciprocal that the working point, in case of change-of plate voltage of AE.; is shifted an amount of AEQ-a, and this"occasionsY 35 a corresponding Achange inf the radio' frequency wave amplitudevm Hence, the gain reciprocate should be chosen large in order to securean effective iniiuence of the radio frequency current. Modulatingthe transmitter-.in a lowerstage; and 40 or acting upon the plate voltage of all of the mode ulated stages, where small valuesof a are dealt with, producesin the modulated stage or stages only a. small change injthe nalradio frequency wave amplitude. which vfollows the modulatorstages `this efl'ectgis l repeatedly reinforced becausein Aeach stagethe 1 working'point is shifted Withthe directcurrent voltage; with an incidental alteration of ythegain.

One difiiculty of the modulation methodas de- 50 scribed resides in the fact `that, upon a Vsudden increase, in the volume oramplitude of the modulating potentials, the plate voltage` is unable tov grow with adequate rapidity owing to the' presence in the circuits of choke 'coils andconden'sers usu; 55'

However, in the amplifier r ally provided to eliminate rectifier hum.y In order to obviate this difficulty, overvoltage protection means are connected in parallel to the choke coils. These means Vmay take the form of spark gaps or glow lamps, or glow discharge or gaseous conduction lamps. i If with increasing sound volume the grid oftherectier isbased so that the plate voltage is rapidly increased, the said overvoltage protection means are rendered operative,

with the resultthat the choke coil is bridged or` shunted, and this in turnY allows of a rapid charging up of the smoothingcondensers. As soon as the condensers have been charged to their full potential, the overvoltage protection means are rendered inoperative, with the result that the choke coil in turn becomes operative again with to smooth out the ripples and 'to eliminate the hum. In lieu of protective devices such as gaseous conduction tubes or glow lamps, which as a general rule are suited -only for small powers, and of spark gaps which are very delicateto adjust, I -may employ a controlled hot cathode valve of the type described hereinbefore in which a current flow once started continues' as long as the anode remains positive. A device of this kind is connected in parallel relation to the chok'e'coils, andthe same, in the presence of normal working voltages,'is blocked for transmission or flow of current by the action of ynegative potential at the grid.` If the voltage is to be raised suddenly, then, by the provision of suitable circuit means, a positive impulse is applied to the grid with the result that the charging'of the smoothing condensers will bey effected rapidly by waynof the hot'cathode tube rather than slowly by way of rect current potential for the plate ofthe tubeV E is supplied from any power network or line connected with the primary winding of a transformer T the secondary winding of which is connectedwith a rectifier tube RT including a control grid `2. The output of the rectier ,is connected to a lter circuit D1, C1, and Czwhich is in turn connected with the plate and cathode of tube E. The connection between the cathode or" tube E and the negative terminal'of the rectifier is by'way of the secondary winding of a transformer T2. This secondaryl windingis bridged or shunted by a condenser C3 which passes carrier frequency waves but blocks out modulating potentials. The primary winding of the transformer T2 is coupled with the microphone circuit M. Ihe're is further arranged in parallel to the secondary coil of the transformer T2 a recti'er tube RTl-connected in series with a blocking condenser C4 which is shunted byra resistance R. Under the influence ofthe modulation currents, potential diiferences are set up across the condenser C4, the value oi which corresponds to the crest potential of the audio frequency currents. These potentials, on the one hand, are applied to the grid electrode of a control tube V which works within the curved portion of its characteristic. The plate supply Vfor tube V s derived from a secondary winding on transformer T. The plate circuit of V also contains the primary winding of a transformer T3, the secondary of which is.

is impressed a biasing voltage which follows the mean value of the amplitude of the modulating potentials. This insures that the plate potential available at tube Evaries in accordance with the mean amplitude of the modulating currents. To overcome Vthe inertia of the iilter circuit DI, CI, C2, to changes in the current supplied from the rectifier RT the anode to cathode impedance of another hot cathode tube U is connected in parallel relation to the choke coil D. This tube U, under normal operating conditions, is blocked by a negative biasing voltage Eg. If, then, a rapid change in voltage arises across the condenser C4, a change in the modulating potentials as rectified by RT1, the same will be applied by way of the transformer T4 to the gridof the tube U to overcomethe negative vpotential thereon so that will Abe conductive and be flashed or ignited as soon as the potential on the grid has built up to the proper value. Owing to the current flowing through the tube the inertia of the filter circuit which would prevent a Lrapid rise of theplate voltage, is obviated. The tube U will remain operative until the condenser C2 has been charged up to a point where no potential difference is acting across the choke coil D. In parallel relation to the secondary coil of the transformer T is disposed a choke coil D2, which is so dimensioned that a rapid change in voltage will reach the grid of tube U from the secondary of T4, whereas a slow change in'voltage will be dissipated in Dz and will not cause a fall of Ypotential on the grid Having thus described my invention and the operation thereof, what I claim is:

L Signalling means comprising, a source of high `frequency oscillations, a thermionic repeater tube coupled by a circuit with said source, a source of modulating pontentials connected with said circuit between said source of high frequency Yoscillations and said repeater, a source of Valternating current, a thermionic rectifier having its input electrodes connected with said source of alternating current, a lter circuit including an impedance connecting the output electrodes of said rectier to the electrodes in said thermionic repeater, and a coupling includ- Ving a second rectier between said source of modulating potentials and a control electrode in said first named rectifier.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said filter circuit impedance is shunted by the output electrodes of a thermionic tube, the input electrodesof which are coupled to said modulation frequency source.

3. Transmitting means comprising, a source of high frequency oscillations, a thermionic tube having its input electrodes coupled to said source of high frequency oscillations and its output electrodes coupled to a work circuit, a source of modulating potentials, a circuit for coupling said source of modulating potentials to the input electrodes of said thermionic tube, a source of alternating current, a rectifier including a control grid having its input electrodes coupled to said source of alternating current, a lter circuit interposed between the output electrodes of said rectifier and the output electrodes of said,

thermionic tube, said filter circuit including series inductances and parallel capacities, a second rectifier having its input electrodes coupled to said source of modulating potentials and its output electrodes coupled to the control grid Vin said first named rectifier, and a discharge tube having its output electrodes connected in parallel with a portion of said filter circuit and its input electrodes coupled to saidsecond named` Y rectifier. i

4. Signalling means comprising, a lsource of `high frequency oscillations, thermionicamplifycordance with the mean amplitude of the modu- V lating potentials comprising, a circuit including a second rectifier connected between the source of modulating potentials and the control electrode in said first rectifier.

5.- Transmitting means comprising, a source of high frequency oscillations, a thermionic tube having its input electrodes coupled toY said source of high frequency oscillations, a source of modulating potentials, a circuit for coupling said source of modulating potentials to the-input electrodes of Vsaid thermionic tube, a source of a1- ternating current, a rectifier of the control grid type having its input electrodes coupled to said source of alternating current, a currentsmoothl-ing circuit interposed between the output electrodes of said rectifier and the output electrodes of said thermionic tube, a second rectifier having its input; electrodes coupled to said source of modulating potentials and a circuit coupling the output electrodes of said second rectifier to the control grid in said first named rectifier.

6. A system as recited in claim 5 in which said last named circuit includes an additional thermionic tube having a control grid and an anode, the control grid of said additional tube being connected to the output of said second named rectifier and the anode of said additional tube being connected to the control electrode in said first named rectifier.

7. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said filter circuit impedance is shunted by the output electrodes of a thermionic tube and in which the input electrodes of said last named thermionic tube are coupled by a circuit toY the output electrodes of said second named rectifier.

8. A device as recited in claim 1 in which means is provided for impressing alternating current potentials from said alternating current source on the. control electrodek ink said first named recti-1^ 9. Transmitting means as recited in claim 5 in which said last namedcircuit includes an additional thermionic tube having a control grid and an anode, thecontrol grid of said additional tubeV being connected to the output of said second named rectifier, the anode of said additional tube 1,' Y

Vl nnamed rectifier and in which said source of alterto thefcontr'ol grid Y being coupled to the control-electrode in said first nating current is'also coupled of said first named rectifier.

10. in `a telephony signalling system, a thermionic tube having anode electrode, control grid electrode, and cathode electrode, a source of high frequency oscillations connected with the controlV rid electrode of said tube,ka source of modulating-potentials connected-'with the control 'gridV of said tube, and meansfor maintaining a desired relation between the'ainplitude of the high fre-- quency VVwaves and cf the modulating potentials to control the degree of modulation including a rectier of the controllable type connected at its input tc a source of alternating current land at its output to the anode and'cathode .electrodes ofv said tubeto energize the same and a circuit energized by modulating potentials connected with said rectifier for controlling the rectifying action thereof. i l c `1l. Signal modulating means of the thermionic type ccrnprising, a thermionic tube having anode,

cathode and control grid, a source of carrier wave `energy connected between the control gridV and cathode, an output circuit connected betweenV the anode and cathode, a source'of Vmodulating potentialscoupled to a circuit connected between two of the electrodes of said tube to apply modulating potentials thereto, a source of alternating current, a rectifier having an anode, cathode and control grid, a circuitconnecting the cathode and anode of said rectifierto saidV alternating current v source and by way of a filter circuit lto thek anode i* of said first named tube, a second rectifier, a cir-V cuit coupling the input of said second rectifierito said source of modulating potentials, and a circuit connecting the output of said second named rectifier to the control grid of said first named rectifier.

l2. A deviceasY recitedin claim 11 in which said named circuit 'includes a condenser which is said condenser from which the to the control grid of said rectifier.

13. A device as recited in claim 11 in'which said last'named circuit includes an additional rectifier connected by way ofv a parallel capacity and resistance to said modulating potential source and charged by potentials from said modulating po- `tental source and a' resistance in parallel with energy is supplied CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,000,770. May 7, 1955.

EMIL MAYEB.

It is hereby Certified that error appears in the printed specification of' the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 50, claim 12, after "said" insert the word last; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the Same may Conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of June, A. D. 1937.

Hery Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.. 

